TOOLS OF THE TRADE FOR FREELANCERS--Series of one- to- two evening classes from March 10 - April 28

At $35 - $70 per course, these Tools of The Trade for Freelancers classes are an unbeatable deal for you to get your freelance business in shape. Join Regina DeCorte, author of My Freelance Hero blog, for these courses in March and April. Is Freelancing Right for You?, Marketing Your Services, Presentation Skills, Building a New Work Relationship, Time Management, and Tax Tips.

And for all of you Fashion Designers, here is a series just for you. Take one or take all of them. Pick and choose the course(s) that are right for you!

FIT OFFERS $35.00 CLASSES: TOOLS OF THE TRADE FOR FASHION DESIGNERS

Assessing Your Market, April 2, 2009 $35.00 The most important research that designers can do is assessing their potential market. Whether you are looking for your perfect product niche or analyzing competing collections, the market research you do establishes your business' reason to be.

Fabrics, Patterns, and Sampling, April 16, 2009 $35.00 Finding fabrics, trims and accessories for samples is difficult. Chasing these for production often determines designers' ability to ship what has been sold. This seminar will give you a thorough understanding of the material side of fashion and will helpyou plan your material purchases from sampling through production.

Line Lists, Look Books, and Sales Collateral, April 23, 2009 $35.00 The most important aspect of establishing your brand is providing sales materials that convey the image you are trying to create. From Line Sheets to Look Books, this class will provide strategies to effectively increase sales while preventing unnecessary duplication of your valuable design concepts. From models and photographers through stylists and printers we will give you an overview of the tools you need to create the branded image you are trying to achieve.

Finding the Right Supplier, April 30, 2009 $35.00 Realize new opportunities in sourcing and supply chain management available to the small designer. Representatives from the Garment Industry Development Corportation will review manufacturing opportunities and resources available from sampling through production to increase your operational efficiency. Additionally, we will address the global opportunities the Internet has made available to the small designer.

Sales, Marketing, and PR, May 7, 2009 $35.00 Score free publicity and get your product in the spotlight. From fashion editorials and the "What's Hot" pages to morning television shows and celebrity endorsements this seminar will teach you how to write press releases that have impact and how to send your product out to producers.

Designer Panel, May 14, 2009 $35.00

Join us for a panel discussion with successful apparel, home furnishings, accessories and jewelry designers. This is an open forum. Your questions are welcome.

Also, be sure to check out and bookmark the Creative Enterprise Owner Course Series here.

Jewelry designer Fevi Reyes launches her new collection, Discoteca. “I am very proud of this collection. It was inspired by my youth in Puerto Rico in the 90’s. I loved the club culture and the creative people that enjoyed the nightlife and dance music. I was inspired by the elements that make that ambiance real, the lights, the disco ball, the [glamorous] women and men...and definitely the Djs, the ultimate kings of the night.”

Reyes received a degree in history from the University of Puerto Rico, but after graduation turned to the private study of fashion and design. She took many classes with noted Puerto Rican fashion designer Carlota Alfaro before shifting her attention to jewelry. She also became an apprentice to jewelry designer Jeannette Fossas and master goldsmith Angel Vicens, both who encouraged her to launch her line in late 2003.

Drawing upon the timeless beauty of ancient jewelry, Reyes has developed a stylish line which is a blend of the ancient art and contemporary fashion. The entire collection is handmade and is cherishable for generations to come.

The designer recently moved from San Juan, PR, to Fort Lauderdale, FL, where she opened her new showroom and workshop.

Fevi Reyes jewelry collections are available online at www.fevireyes.com. Email at fevireyes@hotmail.com for the nearest location.

For more info visit: www.seekingdesigners.com/fevireyes

Check out the faborama bling Tracey Mayer hooked us up with! Hand-set stones make this one uber-special, and note the one precious ruby.  A grand excuse to grab some cocktails tonight!

For more info on Tracey Mayer visit: www.seekingdesigners.com/traceymayermen

(For info on her women's work visit: www.traceymayer.com)

Seeking's Plain Mary is pleased to announce an exclusive deal to carry the Baby Geode Collection by well renown New York jewelry designer Kimberly McDonald. The beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces will be sold exclusively through the Plain Mary website at www.plainmary.com. This is the second designer line to augment Plain Mary's own branded line of baby goods targeting small tots and their parents.

Kimberly McDonald's adult version of her Geode Collection is sold throughout the country in fine jewelry boutiques, including the likes of Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Kimberly's love of rock collecting at an early age led her on an eventual quest to find natural gem-stones and transform them into exquisite, wearable pieces. Friends of her brand include Sophia Bush, Brooke Shields, Stacey London and Candace Bushnell. The new Baby Geode collection targets tots to pre-teens. The pieces are similar to those in her adult collection; however, the baby collection does not include the fine gem-stones that are native to McDonald's adult line.

Plain Mary was keen to pick up the line, not only because the owners are long-time avid fans of McDonald's adult geode gems but also because of the symbolism and natural beauty embedded in the geodes and the ability to split a whole geode in two as a special gift for twins, sisters, and mother-daughter pairs. "I cannot imagine a lovelier gift for twin girls on their way to becoming young ladies," gushes Plain Mary designer Amy Evens.

The relationship between the two brands is a natural fit given their unique style to let quality and simplicity be the focal point of their designs. Both brands also come with a rich connection to various celebrity fans and the related fanfare that comes with such exposure.

The Baby Geode Collection is now available for purchase at www.plainmary.com.

For more info on Plain Mary visit: www.seekingdesigners.com/plainmary

OK. There is generous. Then there is freakishly awesome. Kathryn Amberleigh Shoes fits the latter. We recently received not one....not two...not three...but FOUR pairs of KA shoes at the office. Each one is more spunky and happy than the last. Have you ever gotten four free pairs of shoes unexpectedly?  OK, maybe.  But have you ever gotten four free pairs of shoes unexpectedly that are as awesome as the ones below?

Thank you Kathryn Amerbleigh, you rock, and so do your shoes!

For more info visit: www.seekingdesigners.com/kathrynamberleigh